Tag Archives: 2017 WPTDeepStacks

The second annual WPTDeepStacks-Tampa took place at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino beginning June 8th and concluding June 19th with the live streamed $1,100 Main Event final table. The series boasted five primary events and was headlined by the finale which drew 704 entries marking a 30 percent year over year attendance increase and going down as the third largest Main Event in the tour’s four-year history.

Claiming victory along with $162,354, a $5,250 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open Championship seat and a guitar trophy was Rex Clinkscales of Las Vegas. The victory marked Clinkscales’ ninth tournament victory and his largest score to date. In addition to earning the Main Event title, Clinkscales went down as the Player of the Series.

WPTDeepStacks Main Event draws more than 700 entries, marks 30 percent year over year growth for Tampa and the third-largest finale in the tour’s history

(Tampa, Fla.) — Rex Clinkscales came out on top of the third-largest field in WPTDeepStacks Main Event history Monday evening at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Clinkscales, a Las Vegas-based professional poker player, maneuvered through 704 entries in the $1,100 buy-in event taking home $162,354 and a $5,250 seat in the August’s Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open Championship. In addition, the top prize is inclusive of a $3,000 WPTDeepStacks Championship package.

“It feels amazing,” Clinkscales told WPTDeepStacks’ Jeanine Deeb. “It’s an incredible feeling. I’m just really blessed and really fortunate to even be here. I’m just very thankful to be able to win.”

The 2017 series marked the second consecutive year for the Tampa property to host the WPTDeepStacks. The inaugural event was a huge success drawing more than 500 entries, but year two blew the doors off the Seminole Hard Rock’s new, state-of-the-art poker room. The 704-entry turnout marked an attendance increase of more than 30 percent year over year. The prize pool more than doubled the $300,000 guarantee before settling in at $689,920.

“I realized and I remembered that this tournament was going on in Tampa,” said Clinkscales, who left Las Vegas to play the event. “[Seminole][Hard][Rock][Tampa] is amazing. This place is gorgeous, the staff is great. I highly recommend this place to everyone.”

Starting flights for the event ran at 12pm, Thursday, June 15, Friday, June 16 and Saturday June 17. The first two days drew 191 and 199 entries respectively while Saturday’s play settled in at a stout 314. Day 2 began Sunday at 12pm with 127 players remaining and only the top 72 finishing in the money. Reigning Seminole Hard Rock Poker Player of the Year David Prociak, WPTDeepStacks-Hollywood Main Event champion Michael Graffeo and Seminole Hard Rock Tampa poker ambassador Wally Maddah were among those to bust shy of the money.

The bubble burst a couple hours in to Day 2 and defending Champion Anthony Astarita (22nd, $3,641) headlined those who finished in the money. The action concluded when nine players remained and they returned Monday at 12pm to play the event out in Hard Rock Cafe on the live streamed final table. Sebastian Momtazi lead the way while Clinkscales sat second in the counts. Joining the duo at the top were hometown favorites Daniel Lobato, Amelio Amato and reigning WPTDeepStacks Player of the Series Karl Manouchakian.

The action moved fast as Manouchakian, Lobato and Amato exited ninth, eighth and seventh respectively. Clinkscales cruised as Zoltan Anda busted sixth, Ryan Luker fifth and Andrew Boccia fourth. Clinkscales eliminated Momtazi third and took a nearly three-to-one chip lead into heads up play against Michael Cohen. The final duel lasted only a few hands as Cohen succumbed to Clinkscales finishing runner up for $92,734.

Clinkscales is 34 years old and a regular on the poker tournament circuit. His tournament resume boasts over 120 cashes and nine victories. His win in Tampa marks his largest score to date and moves him over $1,175,000 in career earnings.

The WPTDeepStacks at Seminole Hard Rock began June 8th and concluded Monday evening with Clinkscales’ victory. In all, the series boasted five primary events. In addition to the Main Event, the 12-day festival was headlined by $570 and $350 prelims.

Sebastian Momtazi shoved 4,005,000 from under the gun and Michael Cohen folded the button. It was on Andrew Boccia in the small blind and he moved all-in for less. Rex Clinkscales was in the big blind and asked for a count before folding. Boccia was at risk.

Boccia: Momtazi:

Runout:

Momtazi spiked a jack on the river to take the lead in the hand and bust Boccia in fourth place.

Andrew Boccia raised to 270,000 from early position and Zoltan Anda moved all-in for less — 55,000 — from the button. Rex Clinkscales called the 270,000 from the small blind and played for a side pot with Boccia.

Flop:

Clinkscales checked. Boccia bet 250,000. Clinkscales folded and Boccia earned the side pot and went face up for the main pot with Anda.

Boccia: for top pair top kickerAnda: for nine-high

Turn and river:

Anda was eliminated in sixth place earning $30,911 while Boccia added to his lead.

In a blind-versus-blind battle, Zoltan Anda was in the small and Rex Clinkscales in the bag. The flop was and the pair got the last of Clinkscales’ stack in. Clinkscales had the nuts with for a fullhouse. Anda owned and was second best but had Clinkscales covered.

Turn and river:

Anda improved to a fullhouse, but it was still second best to Clinkscales. Clinkscales doubled.

Sebastien Momtazi opened from late position to 250,000. It folded to Andrew Boccia on the button and he called. It was on Amelio Amato in the small blind and he moved all-in for 1,160,000. Momtazi folded and Boccia found a call.

Amato: Boccia:

Runout:

Boccia improved to trips and grew his chip lead. Amato was eliminated in seventh place earning $24,729.

Sebastian Momtazi opened it for a raise from late position and Andrew Boccia shoved the cutoff. It was on Daniel Lobato on the button and he moved all-in for less — about 1,200,000. The blinds folded as did Momtazi in late position. Lobato was at risk against Boccia.

Boccia: Lobato:

Runout:

Lobato’s tens were no good and he busted in eighth place earning $18,890.

Karl Manouchakian shoved the cutoff for 560,000. It folded to Zoltan Anda in the small blind and he called. Rex Clinkscales folded his big blind and Manouchakian was at risk.

Anda: Manouchakian:

Runout:

Manouchakian never caught up and the Seminole Hard Rock Tampa standout was eliminated in ninth place.

Manouchakian is a professional poker player who was born in Lebanon but now resides in Tampa. He’s the reigning WPTDeepStacks Player of the Series having finished runner-up in last year’s opener and winning the $350 re-entry a few days later.

It’s just after 12pm at the Seminole Hard Rock in Tampa, Florida and the final day of action in the property’s WPTDeepStacks Main Event is underway. From 704 starting entries, the field is down to the final nine. They’ve each locked up $13,051 but the winner is slated to head home with $162,354 along with a $5,250 seat in the Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open Championship and the signature guitar trophy.

It’s Sebastien Momtazi who leads a stout field with a stack of 2,840,000. He’s trailed by a tough lineup that includes Seminole Hard Rock Tampa regulars Daniel Lobato, Karl Manouchakian, Amelio Amato.

The WPTDeepStacks Main Event at Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood marked the third largest finale in the tour’s four-year history. From 704 starting entries, the $1,100 buy-in event is down to the final nine left jockeying for the lion’s share of the $689,920 prize pool. Each remaining player has locked up $13,051 while the tournament’s champion is set to pocket $162,354 along with a $5,250 seat in August’s Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open Championship.